Snatch Thief Arrested

The Police have arrested a 27-year-old man for his suspected involvement in a case of snatch theft.

On 25 August 2018 at about 3 pm, the Police received a report that an unknown man, wearing a mask, had snatched a gold chain valued at S$3500 from a 72-year-old woman along Woodlands Drive 70.

Upon receipt of the report, officers from Jurong Police Division conducted extensive follow-up investigations. With the aid of images from CCTVs and police cameras, the officers established the identity of the man and arrested him on 28 August 2018 along Anchorvale Crescent.

The man is also believed to be involved in a similar case where another victim’s gold chain with two pendants, valued at S$4278 was snatched.

He will be charged in court on 30 August 2018 with use of criminal force in committing theft of property carried by a person under Section 356 of the Penal Code, which is punishable with imprisonment for a term of not less than one year and not more than 7 years, and shall also be liable to caning.

Members of the public are advised to adopt the following crime prevention measures:

Avoid taking shortcuts through dark alleys or secluded areas;

Always be alert and attentive to your surroundings. If you suspect that you are being followed, remain calm and proceed to a more crowded area or call the Police to seek help;

Avoid wearing excessive jewellery or carrying large sums of cash;

When walking, clutch your handbag tightly under your arm and sling its strap across your body. This is especially necessary when moving around in crowded places like shopping centres and markets;

When on the streets, carry your handbag on the side that is away from moving traffic;

When returning home alone or late at night, arrange for someone to escort you home; and

Carry a shrill alarm with you and use it to scare off the culprit or to attract the attention of other members of the public.

Commander of Jurong Police Division, Assistant Commissioner of Police Devrajan Balan said, My officers have looked through hours of footages from CCTVs, police cameras and also conducted extensive enquiries to identify the man. Their perseverance and excellent work are commendable, which eventually resulted in the swift arrest of the man. The Police are committed to keeping Singapore safe, and we will spare no effort to hunt down offenders to ensure that they are brought to justice and face the full brunt of the law.